Saturday, January 9, 2016

Free mammogram here

DUBAI -- More than 1,800 women in the UAE have taken advantage of a free
breast cancer consultation, while 763 x-ray mammograms have been undertaken at
Zulekha Hospital in Dubai and Sharjah as part of the 'Pink It Now' campaign which
was launched in October during the Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Developed exclusively by Zulekha Hospital, a
pioneer in UAE healthcare, the 'Pink It Now' initiative was supported by Ford
Warriors in Pink, a Ford Motor Company breast cancer awareness initiative, and
Dubai Islamic Bank.

From 1 October until 31 December, both hospitals in
Dubai and Sharjah offered women the opportunity to take advantage of free
specialist consultations by Zulekha Hospital oncologists and surgeons as well
as to receive free mammograms.

Zulekha Hospital in Sharjah carried out a total of
1,116 free consultations and 445 x-ray mammograms while the hospital in Dubai
received a total of 703 women for free consultations and a total of 318 for
mammograms, out of which 13 cases were diagnosed positive.

The campaign is part of a worldwide initiative to
build awareness and educate women on breast cancer and the importance of
regular check-ups and early detection. The campaign also aims to empower women
to beat the disease.

Dr. Pamela Munster, a professor at the Department
of Medicine (Haematology/Oncology) and Director of Early Drug Development and
Breast Cancer officially launched the new ‘Pink It Now’ campaign at the Conrad
Hotel in October, alongside her colleague Dr. Hani Sbitany, Assistant Professor
of Surgery Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery from the University
of California in San Francisco.

The event, attended by eminent doctors, cancer
campaigners and breast cancer survivors also highlighted the fact that breast cancer
can affect women regardless of their age, ethnicity, genetics or reproductive
history.